17th Trofeo Melinda Val di Non - Updated
Leonardo Bertagnolli fresh off two second places this week wins. Updated with details and Photos

17th Trofeo Melinda Val di Non
Fresh off his over all win of the Trittico Lombardia where he placed second in two of the races, Leonardo Bertagnolli took a clear and convincing win at the Trofeo Melinda. The rain and cold temperatures did little to dampen the desire of the Liquigas rider who was more interested winning the race and catching the eye of the Italian selectors so he is  included in the Azzuri team selection for the worlds in Varese. Bertagnolli certainly made an impression with his win two weeks ago at Camaiore, and the twice second in the Trittico races and win of the diamond for the overall win.

Vittoria Bertagnolli!! Photo © 2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Bertagnolli left the lead group of 12 riders on the final climb leading second place Aqua & Sapone's Stefano Garzelli to the line by several bike lengths with young gun Mauro Finetto of CSF Group Navigare in third followed by Christian Fumagalli (Ceramics Flaminia), Massimo Giunti  (Miche), Santo Anzà (Diquigiovanni), Thomas Lovkist (Columbia, Sve) and Francisco Reda (BGC-OTC).

Bretagnolli celebrates - Stefano Garzelli in the red jersey of Acqua & Saponi.
Photo © 2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti

In the final circuit only 12 riders survived the steep climbs and 184 kilometers racing through the cold wind and rain, an attack by Possoni and Pagoto was launched joined by  Niemic and the skies opened to a deluge on the riders as they approached the finish. Bertagnolli and Leonardo Moser led the chase that pulled the escapees back until 800 meters from the finish, when Franco Pellizotti, led the catch of the three.

The first to be dropped was Luca Solari. A counter attack by Garzelli who took the final mountain points with Bertagnolli and Finetto following. The Liquigas rider got the advantage at 180 meters and held it to the finish for victory.

Bertagnolli after the victory, celebrates his return to form after a bad start to the 2008 season. Photo © 2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Bertagnolli commented after the race that the year had been a frustrating one, not able to find his legs. His wife Elisabetta convinced him to return to the mountains to regain his form. He trained for ten days on the Stelvio and Pordoi and finally he saw his first rewards with his victory of the Camaiore... then the top performances in the Trittico in the Varesine, Coppa Agostini and Bernocchi culminating in his win of the diamond for the Trittico Lombardia. He also said... In spite of my first place in the Classic San Sebastian...  "This victory has moved me more" Next up for Leonardo is the Tour of Germany where he hopes to do well in the prologue and Queen's Stage.

This was the tenth second for Stefano Garzelli this season, that by 180 meters from the finish he had given his all and had nothing left to give after Bertagnolli anticipated his move. Mauro Finetto felt he waited too late for his final effort, but expressed his satisfaction to finish in the company of the Garzelli and Bertagnolli.

The race has been sponsored by the group Melinda for the last 17 years. Melinda is a grower marketing co-op selling apples and other fruit products of growers in Italy. See Photo of trophy below. You can visit the site by clicking on their logo above.

Poduim 2008 Trofeo Melinda: Stefano Garzelli, Leonardo Bertagnolli and Mauro Finetto.

2003 interview with Mauro Finetto

17th Trofeo Melinda Val di Non
Male - Fondo
184 km - 4:55:17
1 22 Bertagnolli Leonardo Liquigas Ita 4.55.17
2 34 Garzelli Stefano Acqua & Sapone/Caffe' Mocambo Ita S.T.
3 57 Finetto Mauro Csf Group Navigare Ita S.T.

Leonardo and his "Melinda" Trophy

4 74 Fumagalli Cristiano Ceramica Flaminia/Bossini Doccie Ita S.T.
5 103 Giunti Massimo Miche/Silver Cross Ita S.T.
6 1 Anza' Santo Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni/Androni Giocattoli Ita S.T.
7 43 Lövkvist Thomas Team Columbia Swe S.T.
8 85 Reda Francesco Ngc Medical/Otc Industria Porte Ita S.T.

9 15 Pietropolli Daniele Lpr Brakes/Ballan Ita 0.00.08
10 138 Sinicinas Romas Cinelli/Opd Ltu 0.00.15
11 127 Callegarin Daniele Centri Della Calzatura/Partizan Ita S.T.
12 11 Bosisio Gabriele Lpr Brakes/Ballan Ita S.T.
13 7 Moser Leonardo Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni/Androni  0.00.27
14 136 Shchebelin Alexey Cinelli/Opd Rus S.T.
15 72 Caruso Giampaolo Ceramica Flaminia/Bossini Doccie Ita 0.00.32
16 45 Pinotti Marco Team Columbia Ita 0.00.39
17 8 Solari Luca Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni/Androni Giocattoli 0.00.47
18 25 Pellizotti Franco Liquigas Ita 0.00.50

19 135 Spadi Manuele Cinelli/Opd Ita 0.01.35
20 32 Codol Massimo Acqua & Sapone/Caffe' Mocambo Ita 0.01.40
21 33 Failli Francesco Acqua & Sapone/Caffe' Mocambo Ita S.T.
22 24 Noe' Andrea Liquigas Ita 0.02.10
23 42 Barry Michael Team Columbia Can 0.02.50
24 156 Miorin Devis Nippo/Endeka Ita 0.03.10
25 2 Ivanov Ruslan Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni/Androni S.T.
26 41 Rabon Frantisek Team Columbia Cze 0.04.10
27 137 Dotti Juan Pablo Cinelli/Opd Arg 0.10.30
28 92 Centrone Vincenzo Preti Mangimi/Prisma Stufe Lux 0.11.00
29 76 Kairelis Dainius Ceramica Flaminia/Bossini Doccie Ltu S.T.
30 142 Stevenson Michael Amore & Vita/Mc Donald's Swe S.T.
31 62 Corti Marco Team Barloworld Ita S.T.
32 88 Zagorodny Volodymyr Ngc Medical/Otc Industria Porte Ukr S.T.
33 104 Muto Pasquale Miche/Silver Cross Ita S.T.
34 5 Traficante Roberto Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni/Androni Giocattoli Ita S.T.
Participants: 122 - Abandons: 88
Piazza Garibaldi - 2 GPM: Ronzone, Revo - 2 finishing circuits of 3 kilometers.

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